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USAF Scramjet Hits Mach 6, Sets Record

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-where-yer-going dept.

s122604 writes "The [X-51A Waverider]'s scramjet engine accelerated the vehicle to Mach 6, and it flew autonomously for 200 seconds before losing acceleration. At that point the test was terminated. The Air Force said the previous record for a hypersonic scramjet burn was 12 seconds. Joe Vogel, Boeing's director of hypersonics, said, 'This is a new world record and sets the foundation for several hypersonic applications, including access to space, reconnaissance, strike, global reach and commercial transportation.'"

1 of 326 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Interesting... by rhsanborn · · Score: 0, Redundant

    They weren't measuring speed relative to the ground. They were measuring speed relative to itself. Regardless, the increase in distance is negligible. I went and did a quick look up for the X51 and it hit's altitudes of 70,000 feet, or ~13 miles.

    Given a mean radius for the Earth of 4182 mi we get a circumference of 26,276 mi.
    If we add the 13 mi of the test flight, we get a circumference of 26,358 mi.
    With a grand total increase in distance of 82 mi over the entire surface of the Earth.

    Let's even compare the height of the space shuttle on it's Hubble missions (the highest it goes) - 372 mi.
    It's circumference is 28,614 mi.
    It's a difference of 2,338 mi which is a lot, but with all of that altitude, is only an increase in 8% relative to the ground.